Deputy Secretary Landau Meets with Marshall Islands FM Kaneko

Officials discuss strengthening Compact of Free Association ties

Mar. 28, 2026 at 11:24am

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Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with Republic of the Marshall Islands Foreign Minister Kalani Kaneko in Washington, D.C. to discuss the success of the recent Pacific Islands Investment Summit and reaffirm their shared commitment to strengthening the Compact of Free Association between the two countries.

Why it matters

The Compact of Free Association is a critical agreement that defines the political and economic relationship between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. This high-level meeting signals the continued importance of this partnership and the U.S. government's focus on the Pacific region.

The details

During the meeting, Deputy Secretary Landau and Foreign Minister Kaneko highlighted the success of the February Pacific Islands Investment Summit, which aimed to promote economic development and investment opportunities in the Marshall Islands and other Pacific nations. The officials also reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening the Compact of Free Association, the longstanding agreement that underpins the close relationship between the U.S. and the Marshall Islands.

  • The meeting took place on March 28, 2026 in Washington, D.C.

The players

Christopher Landau

Deputy Secretary of State of the United States.

Kalani Kaneko

Foreign Minister of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

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The takeaway

This high-level meeting demonstrates the continued importance of the U.S.-Marshall Islands partnership and the Biden administration's focus on strengthening ties with Pacific Island nations amid growing geopolitical competition in the region.